Apparatus for moving pipe into and out of an oil well derrick



Sept. 12, 1961 F. D. DE JARNETT 2,999,605

APPARATUS FOR MOVING PIPE INTO AND OUT OF AN OIL WELL DERRICK Filed Dec. 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F204; flfJHQA/EIT,

11v VEN TOR.

2 WW FTTOQA/EV Sept- 12, 1 F. D. DE JARNETT APPARATUS FOR MOVING PIPE INTO AND OUT OF AN OIL WELL DERRICK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1954 p 1961 F. D. DE JARNETT APPARATUS FOR MOVING PIPE INTO AND OUT OF AN OIL WELL DERRICK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 20, 1954 Ee/we 0E Jae/v57];

INVENTOR.

Sept. 12, 1961 0. DE JARNETT APPARATUS FOR MOVING PIPE INTO AND OUT OF AN OIL WELL DERRICK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 20, 1954 Sept. 12, 1961 F. D. DE JARNETT 2,99,605

APPARATUS FOR MOVING PIPE INTO AND OUT OF AN 011. WELL DERRICK Filed Dec. 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I2 25 r2051 ii] P 200 222 P 220 O 0 Refine DE JQQA/Eff, 205 INVENTOR. 202 1 16.15:

147 7 ORA/EV United States Patent 2,999,665 APPARATUS FOR MOVING PIPE INTO AND OUT FF AN GIL WELL DERRICK Frank D. De Jarnett, 2150 Chestnut Ave, Long Beach, 'Calif., assignor of one-half to Paul A. Medearis Filed Dec. 20, 1954, Ser. No. 476,363 19 Claims. (Cl. 2142.5)

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling pipe in the form of casing, tubing, drill pipe and the like and is particularly directed to the problem of moving sections of pipe into and out of an oil well derrick for adding to or withdrawing from the pipe in the well bore and derrick. Once a pipe section is positioned upright inside a derrick, all the facilities needed for handling the pipe conveniently and safely are readily available. It is a problem, however, to transport pipe sections into and out of the derrick in an efficient manner and, above all, in a safe manner.

In the usual procedure for supplying pipe sections to an oil well the pipe is first delivered to a storage area near the oil well and is placed in prone position, usually on a suitable storage rack, with the female-threaded ends of the pipe sections directed towards the derrick. A pipe section to be added to the oil well supply is first rolled laterally out of the storage area onto a walkway alongside the area. At least two men are required and this operation is hazardous, especially when the pipe section must be lowered onto the walkway from an upper storage level.

A sling is placed around the prone pipe section at the female-threaded end and a cat-line is engaged with the sling. The cathead then pulls the pipe section into the derrick and in doing so draws the pipe section upright. The pipe section is elevated by the cat-line and is dropped into a mouse hole or vertical shaft in the ground below the derrick floor. The mouse hole holds the pipe section upright with its female-threaded end uppermost in convenient position for engagement by the elevator in the derrick in the usual manner.

In the reverse procedure of transporting pipe sections out of the oil well derrick, the crew may carry out the whole operation manually, first forcing a pipe section to a prone position as it is lowered by the elevator inside the derrick, and then pushing the pipe lengthwise on rollers out of the derrick onto the walkway. Sometimes the procedure is expedited by extending the catline from an elevated point of the derrick to a distant anchor point beyond the walkway and attaching a second line to an intermediate point of this high line. With the high line slack, the second line is attached to a pipe section in the derrick and slack is taken up in the high line to drag the pipe section out of the derrick onto the walkway. Either procedure requires a number of men, involves serious hazard and requires considerable time and labor.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide a procedure for safe and eflicient handling of pipe into and out of a derrick and to provide apparatus that is operative for carrying out the procedure. It is contemplated that power means will be employed to eliminate manual labor and, if desired, the whole procedure may be carried out in an automatic or semi-automatic manner under remote control from a single station.

The invention is characterized by the concept of positioning a pipe section on the walkway with the malethreaded end turned towards the derrick instead of away from the derrick. The pipe section is moved longitudinally to bring the leading male-threaded end into the derrick adjacent the mouse hole and then the trailing or female-threaded end is swung upward to permit the pipe section to drop endwise into the mouse hole.

The apparatus of the invention is characterized by the ice concept of providing a hollow holder for the successive pipe sections, which holder is pivoted at the mouse hole to swing under power between a prone position and an upright position in alignment with the mouse hole. With the male-threaded end of a pipe section extending into the prone holder, the holder may be swung upright to bring the pipe section upright and to cause the pipe section to slide endwise into the mouse hole. The pipe section comes to rest in the mouse hole with the pipe extending upward through the upright holder and with the upper female-threaded end of the pipe section exposed inside the derrick in convenient position for attachment of the elevator thereto.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes conveyor means to move pipe sections between the storage area and the prone hollow holder and also includes support means in the mouse hole to take the weight of the upright pipe section, which support means is vertically movable under power. In addition, the preferred practice of the invention includes suitable power-actuated conveyor means for moving a pipe section in either direction along the walkway between the storage area and the derrick.

To add apipe section to the oil well supply, the pipe section is moved endwise by the conveyor means, the male-threaded end being foremost, to position the end of the pipe section in the prone hollow holder. The prone hollow holder is then swung upright into alignment with the mouse hole whereupon the weight of the pipe is taken by the movable support means inside the mouse hole. The movable support means then descends to a desired level to place the upper female-threaded end of the pipe section in a conveniently accessible position for the attachment of the elevator thereto in the usual manner.

In the reverse procedure for withdrawing a pipe section from the derrick, the pipe section is first lowered through the upright hollow holder to come to rest on the support means in the mouse hole with the support means well down in the mouse hole. The support means is then elevated to raise the upright pipe section and to serve as a temporary bottom wall for the holder. The holder is then swung about its pivot axis to its prone position to transfer the pipe section to the conveyor for movement away from the derrick.

A feature of the preferred practice of the invention is the concept of making the hollow holder retractible and extensible in' length. For this purpose the holder may comprise a plurality of relatively movable telescoped tubular sections with power means for moving the telescoped sections relative to each other. Such a holder may be extended in length when in its prone position to receive a sufficient proportion of the length of a pipe section for the purpose of swinging the pipe section to upright position. The holder may then be retracted in length in its upright position when the pipe section is in the mouse hole, thereby to expose the upper end of the pipe section for attachment of the elevator thereto.

The preferred practice of the invention is further characterized by the concept of providing power-'actated means for shifting individual pipe sections from storage onto the conveyor means and vice versa. In this regard a feature of the invention is the use of a carriage mounted on a track to move along the usual walkway. The carriage is movable along the walkway to permit it to be centered relative to a pipe section in the storage area. Power means is then operated to shift the pipe section from the storage area onto the carriage and the conveyor means on the carriage then shifts the pipe longitudinally towards the derrick.

The various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a derrick floor and an associated pipe-storage area illustrating the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the holder in side elevation;

FIG. 4 is a view partly diagrammatic showing the structure in the mouse hole together with the holder, both in vertical section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken .as indicated by the broken line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the conveyor means adjacent the storage area;

FIG. 8 is a transverse section taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken as indicated by the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken as indicated by the line 1010 of FIG. 7 showing the conveyor means and an adjacent portion of a power-equipped rack for storing pipe sections;

FIGS. l1, l2 and 13 are diagrammatic views illustrating steps in the procedure of transferring pipe from the storage rack to the conveyor means and vice versa;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken as indicated by the line 14-14 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the conveyor means as viewed along the line 15-15 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary front elevation of a control panel used in the preferred practice of the invention; and

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modification of the mouse hole structure.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a derrick 20 having a floor 22 and show a walkway 24 that extends alongside a pipe storage area outside the derrick. A number of pipe sections P are shown in storage in FIG. 1, the pipe sections being on a storage rack comprising two spaced horizontal support beams 25. As shown in FIG. 2 the derrick floor is above the level of the ground 26 and the vertical shaft or mouse hole 28 is excavated in the earth under the derrick floor in the region of the oil Well bore 30.

The invention includes a hollow or tubular holder H having an open bottom, or at least a bottom that can open, the holder H eing mounted inside the derrick 20 and being suitably adapted for movement between a prone position shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an upright position in alignment with the mouse hole 28. In this manner the holder is adapted to receive one end of a pipe section P and swing the pipe section upright so that the pipe section may drop into the mouse hole. The holder need engage only a third or less of the length of a pipe section for this purpose.

The mouse hole 28 has a cylindrical liner 32, the upper end of which is cut off diagonally to provide a diagonal upper edge 34 (FIG. 3). The holder H has a corresponding diagonal edge 35 at its lower end which meets the diagonal upper edge 34 of the cylindrical liner at the upright position of the holder. The holder H may be pivotally mounted by means including a collar 36 that embraces the mouse hole liner 32 and is formed with a pair of ears 38 to hold a pivot pin 40. The collar 36 may be reinforced by an inner collar 42. A suitable bracket 44 welded onto the lower end of the holder H is provided with a pair of ears 45 that are adapted for pivotal engagement with the pivot pin 40.

Any suitable means may be provided to actuate the holder H between its two positions. For this purpose the present embodiment of the invention includes an upper pair of parallel toggle links 46 (FIG. 3) and a similar lower pair of toggle links 47 with the two pairs pivotally interconnected by the suitable cross pin 50. The upper ends of the upper toggle links 46 are connected to the holder H by pivots 52 on a bracket 54 and the lower ends of the toggle links 57 are connected to pivots 55 carried by brackets 56 on a fixed base frame 58. A suitable piston rod 60 extending from a power cylinder 62. is connected to the cross pin 50 and the end of the power cylinder is mounted by a pivot 64 on a fixed bracket 65 to swing as required for actuation of the two toggle links. The power cylinder 62 may be either hydraulically or pneumatically actuated under remote control and for this purpose is connected by flexible conduits 66 with a suit able fluid source and suitable valve means (not shown).

Preferably the holder H is suitably adapted for expansion and contraction in length. Since it may be desirable to extend the length of the holder in horizontal position for the purpose of engaging a sufficient portion of the length of a pipe section P to swing the pipe section upright, it may be desirable to contract the holder in its; upright position to expose the upper end of the pipe sections for engagement by the usual elevator (not shown) in the derrick. For this purpose the holder H may comprise an outer tubular member 68, an intermediate tubular member 70 telescoped into the outer tubular member and an inner tubular member 72 telescoped into the intermediate tubular member. Preferably the intermediate tubular member 70 has a ring 74 united therewith at its lower end to serve as an annular shoulder for limiting longitu-- dinal inward movement of the inner tubular member 72i relative to the intermediate tubular member.

Any suitable arrangement may be provided for causing: longitudinal outward movement of the tubular members 70 and 72 for expansion and contraction of the length of the holder H. In the construction shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, suitable pinion means journalled on the intermediate tubular member 70 is in mesh with suitable racks associated with the inner and outer tubular members to cause the inner tubular member to follow the longitudinal movements of the intermediate tubular member at twice the rate of the intermediate tubular member. Power means is provided to cause longitudinal movement of the intermediate tubular member.

The pinion means for this purpose may comprise, for example, three pinions 75 equally spaced around the circumference of the holder H. Each pinion is positioned in an aperture 76 in the intermediate tubular member 70 and is journalled on the intermediate tubular member by a suitable pin 78. Each of the pinions 75 extends into a corresponding longitudinal slot 80 in the outer tubular member 68 and also extends into a corresponding slot 82 in the inner tubular member 72. A suitable rack member 84 is mounted on the outer tubular member 68 over the slot 80 and a similar rack member 85 is mounted inside the inner tubular member 72 at the inner slot 82. Each of the pinions 75 is in mesh with both of the corresponding rack members 84 and 85.

For power actuation of the intermediate tubular member 70, this tubular member has a longitudinal slot 86 to receive a cable 88 that is anchored to the tubular member by a pin 90 at the lower end of the slot. The cable 88 extends outward through an aperture 92 in the upper end of the outer tubular member 68 and passes over a roller 94 to terminate on a winch 95 driven by a motor 96 on the side of the holder. It is apparent that if the motor 96 is energized to lift the intermediate tubular member 70 upward from the position shown in FIG. 5, each of the pinions 75 will be rotated by engagement with the corresponding rack member 84 and will cause the corresponding inner rack member 85 to be moved upward at twice the rate of the intermediate tubular member. Thus the intermediate tubular member 7 0 will extend upward out of the upper end of the outer tubular member 68 and the inner tubular member 72 will simultaneously extend upward out of the upper end of the intermediate acsaeos tubular member 70. It is not necessary to provide power for contracting the holder H since it will always be contracted while in vertical position and then both the intermediate member 70' and the inner member 72 will move downward by gravity.

Preferably suitable latch means is provided to releasably maintain the holder in extended position in opposition to gravity. For this purpose a solenoid 98 having a plunger 1% may be mounted on the side of the motor 96 with the plunger serving as a pawl for engagement with teeth 102 on one end of the Winch 95. Concealed spring means normally presses the plunger 100 towards the teeth 102 and the plunger is shaped to ride over the teeth 102 when the winch is rotated in the direction to wind in the cable 88. Energization of the solenoid 98 retracts the plunger 100 to permit the winch to rotate in the opposite direction to unwind the cable whenever desired.

Preferably a suitable support means is mounted in the liner 32 of the mouse hole 28 to receive and support the ends of the pipe sections P, the support means being movable between a lower position near the bottom of the mouse hole and an upper position near the upper end of the liner. Since the holder H does not have a bottom, such a support means may, in effect, serve as a bottom for the upright holder when the support means is at the upper end of the liner 32.

As best shown in FIG. 4 such a support means may comprise a piston 104 adapted for reciprocation in the liner 32 with the previously mentioned inner reinforcement ring 42 serving as a stop to limit the upward movement of the piston. The piston 104 is provided with a pair of bands or piston rings 105 and preferably has yielding means 106 in the form of a body of suitable rubberlike material to serve as a cushion for the lower ends of the pipe sections P. The lower end of the liner 32 is of scaled construction and is formed with an enlargement 108 to which is connected a suitable pipe 110. The pipe 110 is connected to one port of a three-way valve 112, with a second port of the three-way valve connected by a pipe 114 to a pump 116, the third port of the three-way valve being connected by a pipe 118 to a suitable reservoir 120. The reservoir 120 contains a supply of a suitable liquid which is delivered to the pump 116 through a pipe 122.

It is apparent that the pump 116 may be actuated to deliver the liquid under pressure through the threeway valve 112 into the bottom of the mouse hole liner 32 to cause the piston 104 to rise in the liner. Obviously a gaseous fluid may be employed instead of a liquid. For example, the three-way valve 112 may be connected to the usual source of compressed air at the oil well.

The manner in which the holder H and the mouse hole 28 cooperate to serve the purpose of the invention may be readily understood from the foregoing description. With the piston 104 at the upper end of the mouse hole liner 3'2 and with the holder H in its horizontal position, a pipe section P is moved longitudinally into the holder with the male-threaded end of the pipe section foremost. Usually it will be advisable to extend the holder in length to increase the proportion of the length of the pipe section that extends into the holder. Energization of the motor 96 for this purpose causes the holder H to be extended in the manner heretofore described. Fluid under pressure is then admitted to the power cylinder 62 to actuate the toggle links 46 and 47 for raising the holder H to its upright position as indicated in broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As the holder H rises to approach its vertical position the pipe section P tends to slide through the open bottom end of the holder and comes to rest against the cushion 16-6 on the piston 104. When the holder H reaches its upright position the whole weight of the pipe section P is on the piston 104 and the three-way valve 112 may be operated to cause the piston to drop and thus lower the pipe section into the mouse hole 28.

The upright holder H is then contracted in length, if necessary, by energization of the solenoid 98 to permit gravitational downward movement of the tubular members 70 and 72. When the holder H is contracted in this manner the upper female-threaded end of the pipe section P is exposed inside the derrick in a position accessible for engagement by the elevator. Thus FIG. 4 shows the upright holder H contracted nearly to the level of the derrick floor 22 and the combined length of the holder and the mouse hole is such that the upper end of the pipe section is conveniently accessible from the derrick fioor.

To move a pipe section P from inside the derrick to the storage area outside the derrick the reverse procedure is followed. With the holder H in the upright position shown in FIG. 4 to serve, in eifect, as an extension of the mouse hole liner 32, the elevator is employed to lower the pipe section into the position shown in FIG. 4 where the pipe section extends through the holder and into the mouse hole. The elevator is then disengaged from the upper end of the pipe section and the piston 104 is caused to move to its upper position by manipulation of the three-way valve 112 and actuation of the pump 116. This upward movement of the piston 104 carries the lower end of the pipe section P into the lower end of the holder H. If desirable, the holder H is extended in length at this time. The power cylinder 62 is then energized to cause the holder H to swing to its lower prone position thereby causing the pipe section P to swing to prone position. The prone pipe section may then be withdrawn longitudinally from the holder.

While a simple embodiment of the invention may comprise essentially the structure and mechanism described to this point, the preferred embodiment of the invention further includes power-actuated means not only to shift pipe sections longitudinally between the walkway 24 and interior of the prone holder H but also to convey pipe sections laterally in either direction between the walkway and the storage rack. For this purpose, a conveyor C may be provided to move the pipe sections longitudinally towards and away from the holder H and this conveyor may be mounted on a suitable carriage R that is movable along the Walkway 24. It will be readily appreciated, however, that the conveyor C may be fixed in position. The carriage R has flanged support wheels 124 by means of which it runs along a track comprising a pair of rails 125 on upright supports 126. In the construction shown in the drawings, the carriage has a suitable frame comprising four longitudinal beams 128, 129, and 131, interconnected by suitable transverse frame members 132.

The conveyor C comprises the two longitudinal beams 128 and 129 of the carriage R together with a series of rollers 136 that are journalled in corresponding bearings 138 on the two beams. Each of the rollers 136 is mounted on a suitable shaft 140 on which may be mounted a pair of sprockets 141 and 142 a s best shown in FIG. 15. The various shafts 140 are operatively interconnected by sprocket chain loops 144 each of which engages two successive sprockets 141, and by additional sprocket chain loops 145 each of which engages two successive sprockets 142.

The series of conveyor rollers 136 may be poweractuated in any suitable manner. For this purpose one of the sprockets 142 at the ends of the series of rollers may be connected by a sprocket chain 146 (FIG. 8) with a sprocket 148 on a counter-shaft 150. The countershaft 150, which is journalled in suitable bearings 152 in the two beams 128 and 129, extends into a gear case 154 and terminates in a lbevel gear 155. The bevel gear 155 meshes with a second bevel gear 156 which is operatively connected to a sprocket 158. The sprockets 158 is operatively connected by a sprocket chain 160 with a sprocket 162 on the shaft 164 of a suitable'motor 166. It is apparent that energization of the motor 166 will actuate all of the rollers 136 to convey a pipe section P longitudinally along the series of rollers.

The carriage C may be moved manually along the rails 125 but preferably is adapted for power actuation by the motor 166. For this purpose a clutch 168 operated by a lever 170 is provided to releasably connect the motor shaft 164 with a worm 172 in mesh with a worm gear 174. The worm gear 174 is keyed to an axle 175 to rotate the flanged wheels 124 on the opposite ends thereof. It is apparent that the motor 166 will normally operate only the rollers 136 of the conveyor but that the clutch 168 may be engaged whenever desired to cause the motor to drive the carriage R along the two rails 125. The purpose of moving the carriage along the two rails may in some instances be to transport a length of pipe but usually the purpose will be to center the conveyor C relative to pipe sections on the storage rack that are to be moved from storage into the derrick.

Although a separate clutch may be provided to disengage the motor drive to the rollers 136 when the car riage C is moved along tracks 125, the invention comprehends only relatively small movements of the whole carriage C so that a pipe will not ordinarily be carried off of the carriage C by a proportionate rotation of the rollers 136. Such carriage movements may be employed to expedite the transfer of pipe to and from the holder H. As stated previously, the principal purpose of moving the carriage is to center the conveyor C relative to pipe sections on the storage rack. This may obviously be most easily accomplished when no pipe is loaded onto the rollers 136.

Preferably the storage rack comprising the two support beams 25 includes power means for shifting the \pipe sections P to the edge of the rack adjacent the walkway 24 thereby to make it convenient to shift individual pipe sections from the storage rack to the conveyor C on the carriage R. In the construction shown in the drawings the two support beams 25 of the storage rack are carried by transverse I-beams which, in turn, are mounted on base members 178. Each of the support beams 25 may comprise a pair of angles 17'9 slightly spaced as shown in FIG. 14 to provide a runway for a sprocket chain loop generally designated 180 A horizontal bar 181 (FIGS. and 14) serves as a track to support the upper run 182 of the sprocket chain loop, this bar being united with the two angles 179 by short transverse connecting bars 183. The upper run 182 of the sprocket chain 180 extends above the two angles 179 as shown in FIG. 14 to carry the prone pipe sections on the storage rack.

The sprocket chain loop 180 passes over an idler sprocket 184 at each end of the storage rack and is engaged by a drive sprocket 185 The drive sprockets 185 of the two storage rack beams 25 are mounted on a common counter shaft 186 which is actuated when desired by a suitable motor 188. The motor 188 is connected to gearing in a gear box 190 through which the motor actuates a stub shaft 192 carrying a sprocket 193. The sprocket 103 drives the counter-shaft 186 by means of a sprocket chain 194 and a sprocket 195 (FIG. 14) on the counter-shaft. It can be seen that the sprocket chain loop 180 may be actuated in either direction to move pipe sections P thereon towards and away from the walkway 24. Preferably each of the two support means 25 of the storage rack has a stop post 196 welded on each end thereof to keep the pipe sections from rolling off either end of the storage rack.

Any suitable means may be provided to move pipe sections P from the storage rack to the conveyor C or from the conveyor C to the storage rack. In the preferred practice of the invention the carriage R is provided with two transfer cradles 200 for this purpose, the

two transfer cradles being spaced apart longitudinally of the carriage. As viewed in FIGS. 10 to 13 inclusive each of the transfer cradles 200, which may be made of angle beams united back to back, is controlled by a left-hand power cylinder 202 and a right-hand power cylinder 204. These two power cylinders, which may be pneumatic cylinders, are mounted in upright position on the carriage by corresponding support spiders 205.

A piston rod 206 extending upward from the left-hand power cylinder 202 terminates in a clevice 208 that is pivotally connected to the transfer cradle 200 by a suitable pivot pin 210. In like manner a piston rod 212 extending upward from the right-hand power cylinder 204 terminates in a clevice 214 that is pivotally connected to the transfer cradle by a pivot pin 216.

Each of the power cylinders 202 and 204 is connected by a flexible conduit 218 to a suitable source of compressed air under control by suitable valves. It is apparent that with the two left-hand power cylinders 202 of the two transfer cradles 200 actuated synchronously and with the two right-hand cylinders 204 actuated synchronously the two power cylinders may be employed to raise and lower the two transfer cradles 200 in unison or may be used to tilt the two transfer cradles in unison in either direction.

Each of the transfer cradles 200 has a fixed stop 22% at one end and at the other end carries a pivoted arm 222 with an upwardly curved upper surface 224. Each arm 222 is mounted on a pivot 225 and has an extension 226 which normally engages the under side of a longitudinal flange 228 of the cradle. It will be noted that the pivoted arms 222 at the ends of the two transfer cradles 200 extend into the region of the storage rack suificiently to engage the first pipe section P thereon so 'that with the carriage R stationed to place the two cradles in positions offset from the support beams 25 of the rack, it is possible to use the pivoted arms 22 either to lift a pipe section from the storage rack or to deposit a pipe section on the storage rack.

The manner in which the two transfer cradles 200 operate to transfer pipe sections P from the storage rack to the conveyor C and vice versa may be understood by reference to FIGS. '10 to 14.

FIG. 1 shows in full lines how the two cradles may be positioned to lift a pipe section from the storage rack. When the two pairs of power cylinders 202 and 204 are energized simultaneously to lift the two transfer cradles simultaneously, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 10, the two pivoted arms 222 will lift the end-most pipe section from the rack and the pipe section will roll down the two curved surfaces 224 of the two arms onto the cradle proper. As shown in FIG. 11, the two left-hand power cylinders 202 may be then operated to retract the corresponding piston rods downwardly to incline the two transfer cradles simultaneously so that the pipe section rolls against the two fixed cradle stops 220. When the cradles are inclined in this manner as shown in FIG. 11 it is apparent that both pairs of power cylinders 202 and 204 may be operated to lower the two cradles simultaneously thereby to deposit the pipe section on the conveyor C. With the two cradles completely lowered as shown in full lines in FIG. 10 the pipe section is completely supported by the conveyor rollers 136 and the conveyor rollers may be energized to move the prone pipe section thereon into the prone holder H. The prone holder H may then be swung upward to shift the pipe section into the derrick as heretofore described.

When pipe sections are to be moved from the interior of the derrick to the storage rack, each pipe section in turn is lowered through the upright holder H into the mouse hole with the piston 104 at the bottom of the mouse hole. This operation places the pipe section in the position shown in FIG. 4. The piston 104 is then elevated, as heretofore described, to raise the bottom of the pipe section into the lower end of the holder H.

The holder H is then extended longitudinally and thereafter is swung; to its prone position. As the holder. H swings to its prone position the pipe section therein is lowered to a position at which the major portion ofthe weight of the pipe rests on the rollers 136 of the conveyor C- If necessary the holder H is then contracted in length to increase the proportion of the weight of the pipethat rests on the conveyor. The rollers 136 of the conveyor are then energized to cause the prone pipe section to travel longitudinally thereon to a position opposite the storage rack.

During this longitudinal movement of the pipe section on the rollers 136 the two transfer cradles 200 are in their lowermost positions shown in FIG. 10. When the pipe sections reach the desired longitudinal position the rollers 136 are de-energized and the two pairs of power cylinders 202 and 204 are energized to raise the twocradles to the elevated positions indicated in broken lines in FIG. 10. The two left-hand, power cylinders 202 are then energized for further extension of the corresponding pistons to cause the two cradles to incline downward toward the storage rack. The two pivoted arms 222 are then above the level of the stop posts 196 at the end of the storage rack to permit the pipe section to gravitate onto the curved surfaces 224 of the pivoted. arms. It is assumed that there is a vacancy at theend of the storage rack to receive a pipe section at this time. Both pairs of power cylinders 202 and 204 are then energized to lower the two cradles 200 to their normal position below the level of the conveyor rollers 136 thereby depositing the pipe section on the storage rack.

If there is no vacancy at the end of the storage rack, the power cylinders may be mainipulated to cause the pipe section to roll down the twoinclined cradles as shown in FIG. 12 with sufficient velocity to cause the pipe sec;- tion to roll off the outer ends of the pivoted arms 222 to drop onto the pipe. already on the storage rack. If. such an operation is carried out, the outermost pipe section on the storage rack will be in the path of downward movement of the two pivoted arms 222 when the two cradles are lowered. Consequently the pivoted arms 222 will contact the outermost pipe section as shown in FIG. 13 and will be swung upward to clear the pipe section. A feature of the invention is that all of the described poweractuated components may be remotely controlled. Thus with all of the remote controls at a single station, all of the described operations can be carried out by a single operator. For this purpose a suitable control panel 250 may 'be positioned on the derrick floor 22as indicated in FIGS. 1 and=2.'

Asshown in FIG. 16, this control panel may have various switches for remote control of the various essential power-actuated components including the following: reversible switch means 252 for controlling the threeway valve 112 and switch means 254 for controlling the pump 116 thereby to control the vertical movements of the piston 104; reversible switch means. 255 to control thepower. cylinder 62 to actuate the holder H between its; prone and upright positions; switch means 256 to control energization of the motor 96 and switch means 258 to control the associated solenoid 98 for extending and retracting the holder H; reversible switch means 260 for the motor 166 to actutae the conveyor rollers 136 in op positedirections selectively; reversible switch means 262 to operate the pair of left-hand power cylinders 202- in unison; reversible switch means 264 for actuating the right-hand power cylinders, 204 in unison; and reversible switch means 265 for energizing the motor 188 in opposite di'rections. selectively for actuating the storage rack sprocket chain 180. Preferably the control panel 250 also includes a reversible switch 266 which causes the elevator in the derrick to engage and disengage the upper ends of pipe sections by remote control, as set forth in my Patent 2,684,166 entitled Power-Elevator for Oil Wells.

FIG. 17 shows how the, structure in the mouse. hole may be; modified by substituting a liner 32a for theliner 32 and substituting support means 270 for the piston 104; The support means 270 is a cup-shaped member to receive, the lower ends of the pipe sections P andhas a cushion 272 of rubber-like material in its bottom. A cable 274 fixed atone end to an anchorage 276 forms a loop under the supportmeans 270 and the support means has a series of four grooved rollers 278 in engagement with this loop. The cable passes upward over a grooved roller 280 and passing outward through an aperture 282 in the liner 32a terminates on a winch 284. The winch is actuated by a suitable motor 285 that is mounted on the liner 32a.

Preferably a suitablelatchis provided to hold the winch 284 releasably against rotation in. response to the weight imposed on the support 270. For this purpose a pawl in the form of a plunger 286 controlled by a solenoid 287 engages ratchet" teeth, 288 on the winch. A concealed spring normally holds the pawl 285 inengagement with the ratchet teeth but the pawl is retracted in response to energization of the solenoid.

My description in specific detail of a selected practice ofv the invention byway of example and to illustrate the principles involved will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure that properly lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick, including: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; a hinged elongated holder to surround one end of a pipe section at least atits hinged position along its length, said holder being pivoted from oneend for movement between a prone position adjacent said shaft and an upright position in substantial alignment with the shaft for lifting a pipe section from prone position to upright position to cause the lifted pipe section to drop longitudinally into the shaft, said shaft being of an effective depth to place the upper end of the dropped pipe section in a position accessible for engagement by the elevator; and power means tomove said holder between its two positions.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes support means in said shaft to lower the upright pipe section into the shaft at acontrolled rate.

3. An: apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes power means to raise said support means in said shaft.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes power means to move pronev pipe sections longitudinally into and out of said holder when the holder is in prone position.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said holder is. longitudinally retractible and extendable whereby the holder may be retracted in length to expose the upper end of an upright pipe section for access from the derrick floor and may be extended in length to facilitate lifting a pipe section from prone position.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes yielding means to cushion and support the lower end of a. pipe section in said shaft.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which includes power means to raise. and lower said yielding means in said shaft.

8. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick for moving pipe into and out of the derrick, comprising: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; power-actuated conveyor means to shift a prone pipe section longitudinally in either direction between a storage area outside the derrick and a first prone position with the male-threaded ends of the pipe section inside the derrick in the region of said shaft; means to swing a pipe section in either direction between said first prone position and a second upright position inside the derrick above said shaft with the masses 1 1 male-threaded end of the pipe section lowermost; and means to move a pipe section longitudinally in both directions between said second upright position above the shaft and a third upright position partially in the shaft with the upper end of the pipe section accessible for engagement by the elevator in the derrick.

9. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick for moving pipe into and out of the derrick, comprising: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; an open-bottom elongated power-actuated holder for one end of a pipe section, said holder being pivoted at its bottom end adjacent said shaft for swinging movement between a prone position and an upright position in substantial alignment with the shaft for moving a pipe section from prone position to upright position and vice versa; a power-actuated support means mounted in said shaft for movement between an upper position to serve as a bottom for said holder and a lower position to support an upright pipe section in the shaft and holder at a level with the upper end of the pipe section accessible to the elevator in the derrick.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said elongated holder is of telescoped construction for retrac tion and extension in length; and which includes power means to vary the length of the holder.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 which includes power means to move a pipe section longitudinally into and out of said holder.

12. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick for moving pipe sections into and out of the derrick, comprising: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; a hollow elongated holder for one end of a pipe section, said holder being mounted for movement between a first prone position adjacent said shaft and a second upright position in substantial alignment with the shaft for moving a pipe section from a first prone position to a second upright position and vice versa; power means to actuate said holder; a support means to move a pipe section in both directions between said second upright position and a third upright position with the pipe section supported in said shaft, said shaft being of an effective depth to place the upper end of the pipe section in a position accessible for said elevator at said third position of the pipe section; power means to actuate said support means; and conveyor means in alignment with the prone position of said holder to move a pipe section longitudinally into and out of the prone holder.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which all of said power means are under remote control from a single station.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 which includes power means to actuate said conveyor means.

15. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick for moving pipe sections into and out of the derrick, comprising: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; a hollow elongated power-actuated holder for one end of a pipe section, said holder being mounted for movement between a prone position adjacent said shaft and an upright position in substantial alignment with the shaft for moving a pipe section from a first prone position to a second upright position and vice versa; a power-actuated support means movable in said shaft to move a pipe section in bothdirections between said second upright posi- =tion and a third upright position, with the pipe section supported in said shaft, said shaft being of an effective depth to place the upper end of the pipe section in a position accessible for the elevator in the derrick at said 12 third position of the pipe section; and a conveyor means in alignment with the prone position of the holder to move'a pipe section longitudinally into and out of the prone holder. a Y

16. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick, including: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; a tubular elongated holder open at both ends to receive one end of a pipe section, said holder being pivoted from one end for movement between a prone position adjacent said shaft and an upright position in substantial alignment with the shaft for lifting a pipe section from prone position to upright position to cause the lifted pipe sect-ion to drop longitudinally into the shaft, said shaft being of an effective depth to place the upper end of the dropped pipe section in a position accessible for engagement by the elevator; and power means to move said holder between its two positions, said holder being longitudinally retractible and extendible whereby it may be retracted in length to expose the upper end of an upright pipe section for access from the derrick floor and may be extended in length to facilitate lifting a pipe section from its prone position, said holder comprising a plurality of relatively movable telescoped hollow sections.

17. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe for use in oil wells, said apparatus comprising: an elongated holder pivoted at one end to rotate from a horizontal to a vertical position to move a pipe supported thereby from a horizontal to a vertical position; and shaft means ad jacent said holder to line up with said holder when it is in its vertical position to receive one end of a pipe section, said shaft means extending upwardly above the horizontal position of said holder only to a position opposite the peripheral position at which said holder is pivoted to prevent a pipe section from sliding off of said holder and missing said shaft means when said holder is raised from its horizontal to its vertical position.

18. The invention as defined in claim 17, wherein said holder is a hollow tube open at both ends.

19. Apparatus for handling sections of pipe in the region of an elevator-equipped oil well derrick, including: an upright excavated shaft below the derrick floor; a hollow elongated holder of a tubular shape to surround one end of a pipe section, said holder being mounted for movement between a prone position adjacent said shaft and an upright position in substantial alignment with the shaft for lifting a pipe section from prone position to upright position to cause the lifted pipe section to drop longitudinally into the shaft, said shaft being of an effective depth to place the upper end of the dropped pipe section in a position accessiblefor engagement by the elevator; and power means to move said holder between its two positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cigliano June 28, 1955 

